Search Site close Close
Sandhya Jayasekara
News

Three Minute Thesis competition awards quick thinkers

Published Date:

What’s the fastest you’ve ever explained your work to someone?  

Graduate students at Southern Illinois University took that challenge to the next level during the Three-Minute Thesis (3MT) competition at the Carbondale campus on Friday, February 14.

The 3MT is a research communication competition that was originally developed by the University of Queensland in 2008. The contest has grown in popularity, and 3MT contests now occur at more than 600 universities and institutions in 65 countries.

The 3MT competition challenges students to summarize their research for a non-specialist audience using only three minutes of speech and a single PowerPoint slide, following pre-determined guidelines.

This year, more than a dozen students from SIU science and humanities graduate programs participated in the event.

Following a tie-breaker, Sandhya Jayasekara (pictured above) won first place and received an $800 cash award. She will represent SIU in the Midwestern Association of Graduate Schools (MAGS) 3MT Competition during the 81st MAGS Annual Meeting in Indianapolis, April 2-4.

Her PhD research focuses on genetically engineering cyanophages, which are viruses that infect cyanobacteria, or blue-green algae. The goal is to lower the toxicity of Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) that can impact human and animal health, while bolstering the global economy.

She credits her research advisor Dr. Lahiru Jayakody, and colleagues Lakshika, Bhagya, Dushmantha, Isabelle, Anne, Elwood and Kate for helping her prepare.

“It was a marvelous experience,” Jayasekara said. “I doubted myself a lot at first, but then I understood that I should start enjoying the moment.”

Sujata Pandey (at right, with Dr. Karen Jones) was also awarded first place and $800 in the close competition. Originally from Nepal, Pandey is a PhD candidate in the Pharmacology and Neuroscience program in Springfield. Her research focuses on hearing loss, specifically exploring signaling pathways involved in otoprotection against drug- and noise-induced damage.

Pandey said striking the right balance for her presentation "required a new level of communication skill, making this experience both rewarding and unforgettable."

Third place went to Annie Vargas-Lizarazo, a PhD candidate in the School of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences. Annie is from Colombia, South America.

More from SIU News

801

SIU Medicine launches national search for next dean, provost and CEO

Southern Illinois University Medicine has launched a national search for its next dean, provost and CEO. The search will be conducted in partnership with Isaacson, Miller, a national executive search firm specializing in academic medicine and higher education leadership.
Ginger Meyer and Allison Jackson

Ginger Meyer honored for leadership in trauma recovery

Ginger Meyer has spent more than twenty years helping children and families in southern Illinois heal from trauma, and her steady leadership recently earned national recognition from the Academy on Violence and Abuse. As clinical director of SIU School of Medicine’s Children’s Medical and Mental Health Resource Network, she has expanded access to trauma-informed care across rural communities, supported partners who serve children affected by abuse and violence, and trained hundreds of graduate students in evidence-based treatment. Her service with AVA strengthened national efforts to integrate trauma-informed practices into health care, and colleagues praise her ability to unite teams, guide change and keep families at the center of the work. Through her leadership, more children across central and southern Illinois can find safety, support and hope close to home.
Moy Clinic Building in winter

AFSCME, SIU School of Medicine ink 3-year agreement

SIU School of Medicine and AFSCME Local 370 have finalized and ratified a new collective bargaining agreement, effective July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2028. The union represents more than 800 school employees across its campuses.